From the ground up: Yorba Linda soccer excels

Feb. 7, 2013

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Yorba Linda senior Shelby Lanksbury chases down the ball during Friday's 2-1 Empire League victory over Cypress. On Wednesday, Lanksbury, a Chico State signee, was one of six Mustang players to sign a letter of intent to play soccer in college. MIGUEL VASCONCELLOS, FOR THE REGISTER

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Yorba Linda senior Emily Shleppey fights for the ball during Friday's 2-1 Empire League victory over Cypress. On Wednesday, Shleppey, a Chico State signee, was one of six Mustang players to sign a letter of intent to play soccer in college. MIGUEL VASCONCELLOS, FOR THE REGISTER

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Yorba Linda senior Ashlee Webb guards the ball during Friday's 2-1 Empire League victory over Cypress. On Wednesday, Webb, a Long Beach State signee, was one of six Mustang players to sign a letter of intent to play soccer in college. MIGUEL VASCONCELLOS, FOR THE REGISTER

Yorba Linda senior Shelby Lanksbury chases down the ball during Friday's 2-1 Empire League victory over Cypress. On Wednesday, Lanksbury, a Chico State signee, was one of six Mustang players to sign a letter of intent to play soccer in college. MIGUEL VASCONCELLOS, FOR THE REGISTER

In fall 2009, six girl soccer players enrolled at Yorba Linda High as part of the second freshman class in school history.

Four years and three prosperous varsity seasons later, those student-athletes will soon leave their alma mater as pioneers of its resplendent soccer program.

"We started this program as nothing," said defenseman Taryn Tanaka. "We had no seniors to lead us along the path, and we had no traditions set here. ... It was just us coming in and getting everyone together to build what we have now.

"It's pretty awesome how much we've grown and how much everything has developed."

On Wednesday, in recognition of National Signing Day, Kristin Kleinow (Chapman University), Shelby Lanksbury and Emily Shleppey (Chico State), Tanaka (UNLV), Ashlee Webb (Long Beach State) and Taylor Chavez (University of San Diego) were all expected to sign letters of intent to play soccer for those schools.

The six signees represent nearly half of the program's first true senior class.

"It's almost unreal," Tanaka said. "It feels like just yesterday we were walking into school for the first time. It's sad to think about not being here as a team after this year. ... These are the girls we've all grown up with."

Yorba Linda – thanks to an idea from the soccer program at Division II Chico State – has effectively instilled a level of intimacy amongst its 30 varsity players.

"We've split our team into little families, with six leaders," said Lanksbury, a forward and one of the leaders. "We are in charge of four to five younger girls. They're our family. Each week, we'll take our family out to lunch to get to know them better."

In their first year, the Mustangs – comprised entirely of sophomores and freshmen – classified themselves a junior varsity team.

Throughout their inaugural season however, the underclassmen frequently played varsity squads from other schools. That invaluable game experience would ultimately build the program's foundation.

"Being able to play at such a high level at such a young age set us up for success," said Kleinow, the goalkeeper. "We might have lost a few games here and there, but in the end it was beneficial. You're introduced to it so soon, you have to set high standards for yourself."

With a full season under its belt, the Yorba Linda girls soccer program ascended to the varsity level. Behind its maturing sophomore class, the team finished third in-league and earned its first postseason appearance.

"It (starting new) gave us a chance to set initial leadership and show how this program was going to run," said Shleppey, a midfielder. "It allowed us to build legacies, show how everything works and set the standard for years to come."

Last year, the team enjoyed its most successful campaign. In addition to a second-place finish in league and a victory in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 3 playoffs, all six signees were named to the All-Empire League first-team.

Webb, a midfielder/forward, was named the league's offensive player of the year.

"We all had to grow up pretty fast," said Chavez, a defenseman.

To begin the 2012-13 season, Yorba Linda was ranked No. 1 in the CIF-SS Division 3 poll. Thus far, the Mustangs have spent multiple weeks ranked in the Orange County top 10 and continue to rank high in Division 3.

In December, they qualified for Foothill High's prestigious Excalibur Tournament of Champions for the first time.

"We all love hanging out with each other," Webb said. "This team is super close. When we hang out, it's not just for the team, it's for each other."

The 2013 class helped establish the "Soccer With Hope" tournament and fundraiser to raise awareness of teen suicide and prevention.

This season alone, the tournament raised $17,000 to benefit the cause.

"They built the program from day one," Coach Greg Aviles said of his seniors. "It's been a bit of a project for us, four years in the making, and they've got to see it grow. ... Everything that we have as a program, and everything we do now, is a tradition and they started it.

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